In one U.S. study, for example, Instagram topped Google Search and other rivals as Gen Z’s preferred search engine. But this is still a close race and not one that Instagram has necessarily won.

Gen Z consumers use Instagram and TikTok more often to discover products than Google. ... Millennials (42.45), Gen X (41.1%), and Boomers (55.9%) and still rely on Google Search first.

Even Google has acknowledged this shift – Prabhakar Raghavan noted that “nearly 40% of young people prefer TikTok or Instagram over Google Search or Maps” for local recommendations.

If your Instagram account is public, your photos and videos can appear in Google Search results, potentially exposing personal moments to a wider audience. This increases the risk of misuse or ...